U.S. patent application number 10/115205 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-02 for electrical connector.
Invention is credited to Burwell, John W., McCoy, Phillip.
Application Number | 20030184204 10/115205 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28453883 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030184204 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McCoy, Phillip ; et
al. |
October 2, 2003 |
Electrical connector
Abstract
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, an electrical
connector for connecting a first conductor and a second conductor,
the first conductor and the second conductor both having an
insulation coating and the second conductor having a stripped end,
including a housing and an electrical terminal disposed with the
housing. The electrical terminal includes at least one insulation
displacement contact for electrical connection with the first
conductor, and including at least one releasable pressure contact
for connection and disconnection with the stripped end of the
second conductor.
Inventors: |
McCoy, Phillip; (Albion,
IN) ; Burwell, John W.; (Rome City, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Todd T. Taylor
TAYLOR & AUST, P.C.
142 S. Main St.
P.O. Box 560
Avilla
IN
46710
US
|
Family ID: |
28453883 |
Appl. No.: |
10/115205 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
313/318.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 4/4818
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
313/318.12 |
International
Class: |
H01J 005/48; H01J
005/50 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A lighting fixture, comprising: a light; a first conductor and a
second conductor associated with said light, said first conductor
and said second conductor both having an insulation and said second
conductor having a stripped end; an electrical connector
operatively coupled with said first conductor and said second
conductor, said electrical connector including: a housing; and an
electrical terminal disposed within said housing, said electrical
terminal including at least one insulation displacement contact for
electrical connection with said first conductor, and including at
least one releasable pressure contact for connection and
disconnection with said stripped end of said second conductor.
2. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein said electrical
terminal includes at least one locating hole for registration of
said electrical terminal in said housing.
3. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein said at least one
insulation displacement contact includes at least one V-shaped
notch and at least one straight notch for displacing said
insulation from said first conductor.
4. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein said at least one
releasable pressure contact includes at least one contact for
making contact with said stripped end of said second conductor.
5. The lighting fixture of claim 4, wherein each said releasable
pressure contact includes a generally u-shaped spring.
6. The lighting fixture of claim 5, wherein each said releasable
pressure contact includes a first spline, a second spline and an
interconnecting web curved in an arc subtending greater than 180
degrees.
7. The lighting fixture of claim 6, wherein said housing has at
least one pushbutton, and said first spline has a pushbutton
aperture allowing said at least one pushbutton to actuate said
second spline.
8. The lighting fixture of claim 7, wherein said web includes at
least one wire aperture allowing the insertion of said stripped end
of said second conductor into said electrical terminal.
9. The lighting fixture of claim 4, wherein said housing includes
at least one pushbutton for actuating said at least one releasable
pressure contact.
10. The lighting fixture of claim 9, wherein said electrical
terminal includes at least one pushbutton aperture for receiving
said at least one pushbutton therein.
11. The lighting fixture of claim 9, wherein said at least one
pushbutton includes at least one pushbutton resilient member.
12. An electrical connector including a first conductor and a
second conductor, the first conductor and the second conductor both
having an insulation coating and the second conductor having a
stripped end, said electrical connector comprising: a housing; and
an electrical terminal disposed within said housing, said
electrical terminal including at least one insulation displacement
contact for electrical connection with the first conductor, and
including at least one releasable pressure contact for connection
and disconnection with the stripped end of the second
conductor.
13. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein said housing is
configured as a monolithic element.
14. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein said housing has
at least one actuating element for actuating said at least one
releasable pressure contact.
15. The electrical connector of claim 14, wherein said at least one
actuating element includes a pushbutton for actuating said at least
one releasable pressure contact.
16. A method for electrically connecting a first conductor and a
second conductor within an electrical connector, the first
conductor and the second conductor both having an insulation and
the second conductor having a stripped end, comprising the steps
of: providing said electrical connector with a housing, and an
electrical terminal disposed within said housing, said electrical
terminal including at least one insulation displacement contact for
electrical connection with the first conductor, and including at
least one releasable pressure contact for connection with the
stripped end of the second conductor; coupling the stripped end of
the second conductor with said at least one releasable pressure
contact; and connecting the first conductor with said at least one
insulation displacement contact.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first conductor is a
pass-through conductor.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the second conductor is a
push-in conductor.
19. The method of claim 16, including the step of removing the
second conductor from said electrical connector without the
disassembly of said electrical connector.
20. An office furniture assembly, comprising: an office furniture
component; a first conductor and a second conductor associated with
said office furniture component, said first conductor and said
second conductor both having an insulation and said second
conductor having a stripped end; an electrical connector
operatively coupled with said first conductor and said second
conductor, said electrical connector including: a housing; and an
electrical terminal disposed within said housing, said electrical
terminal including at least one insulation displacement contact for
electrical connection with said first conductor, and including at
least one releasable pressure contact for connection and
disconnection with said stripped end of said second conductor.
21. The office furniture assembly of claim 20, wherein said office
furniture component is a light.
22. The office furniture assembly of claim 20, wherein said first
conductor is a pass-through conductor.
23. The office furniture assembly of claim 20, wherein said second
conductor is a push-in conductor.
24. The office furniture assembly of claim 20, wherein said housing
is configured as a monolithic element.
25. The office furniture assembly of claim 20, wherein said housing
has at least one actuating element for actuating said at least one
releasable pressure contact.
26. The office furniture assembly of claim 25, wherein said at
least one actuating element includes at least one pushbutton for
actuating said at least one releasable pressure contact.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to modular furniture, and,
more particularly, to electrical connectors used in a modular
furniture environment.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In a modular furniture environment electrical connectors are
used to electrically connect a variety of electrical appliances
such as light fixtures and the like to electric utilities.
Electrical connectors of known construction include connectors in
which a conductor, with an end stripped of insulation, can have the
stripped end inserted and removed from a terminal through a variety
of terminal devices, requiring a form of disassembly or loosening
of the connector. Also known are insulation displacement type
electrical connectors in which a conductor can be connected to a
connector terminal without making a physical break in the conductor
so that the conductor can continue uninterrupted to another
connector or electrical device.
[0005] During routine assembly and repair of electrical appliances
such as light fixtures in a modular furniture environment, it is
customary to make multiple connections to a common conductor such
as the line or neutral conductors. One or more of these multiple
connections may at sometime need to be released in order to effect
the repair or rearranging of an electrical appliance. A problem
with existing connectors is that they require a form of disassembly
or loosening of the connector, requiring extra time or specialized
skill, in order to disconnect the appliance. Additionally, it is
desired to not interrupt the electrical connection to successive
appliances during the repair or rearranging and a problem with
existing connectors is that disconnecting one device may interrupt
the electrical service to successive devices.
[0006] What is needed in the art is an electrical connector that
provides for connecting to a conductor so that the stripped end can
be inserted and removed from a terminal within the connector,
without requiring disassembly or loosening of the connector, and a
second conductor can make electrical connection to the same
terminal without making a physical break in the second
conductor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides an electrical connector with
an electrical terminal disposed within a housing. The electrical
terminal includes at least one insulation displacement contact and
at least one releasable pressure contact.
[0008] The invention comprises, in one form thereof, an electrical
connector for connecting a first conductor and a second conductor.
The first conductor and the second conductor both have an
insulation coating and the second conductor has a stripped end. An
electrical terminal is disposed within a housing. The electrical
terminal includes at least one insulation displacement contact for
electrical connection with the first conductor, and includes at
least one releasable pressure contact for connection and
disconnection with the stripped end of the second conductor.
[0009] An advantage of the present invention is that the conductor
with the stripped end can be inserted and removed from the
electrical connector without the disassembly or partial disassembly
of the electrical connector.
[0010] Another advantage is the first conductor can make electrical
connection to the electrical terminal within the electrical
connector without the need for terminating the conductor in the
electrical connector.
[0011] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the
electrical connector facilitates easy assembly of an office
furniture assembly.
[0012] Yet another advantage is the easy assembly of the electrical
connector with the conductors.
[0013] Yet another advantage is the ability to easily remove an
electrical device, for repair or replacement, from the electrical
connector's releasable pressure contact.
[0014] Yet another advantage is the ability to remove an electrical
device from the electrical connector's releasable pressure contact
without disrupting electrical service to electrical devices
connected to the pass-through conductor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of
this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more
apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference
to the following description of an embodiment of the invention
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an office furniture assembly
showing the electrical connector of the present invention connected
with a light;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electrical connector
with one part of the housing partially opened; and
[0018] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along section line 3-3 in
FIG. 2.
[0019] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out
herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in
one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as
limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG.
1, there is shown an embodiment of an office furniture assembly 10
of the present invention, which generally includes an office
furniture component 12, a first conductor 14, a second conductor 16
and an electrical connector 18. Office furniture component 12 is
shown in FIG. 1 as a light fixture, but could alternatively be an
electrical receptacle, speakers, telephone, fax machine, or other
known electrical devices.
[0021] First conductor 14 and second conductor 16 each include an
inner conductor 36 surrounded coaxially by insulation 38 (FIG. 2).
Second conductor 16 has stripped end 40 where insulation 38 has
been removed from inner conductor 36. First conductor 14 carries a
common electrical signal which is transferred to office furniture
component 12 via second conductor 16 by making connection between
first conductor 14 and second conductor 16 through electrical
connector 18. Electrical connector 18 allows connection and
disconnection of second conductor 16 without requiring disassembly
of electrical connector 18, thereby making the assembly and
servicing of office furniture component 12 easier.
[0022] Electrical terminal 44 includes two insulation displacement
contacts 60 and three releasable pressure contacts 62. Each
insulation displacement contact 60 has V-shaped notch 64 (FIG. 3)
which locates first conductor 14 with respect to straight notch 66.
As first conductor 14 is pressed into V-shaped notch 64 and
straight notch 66, straight notch 66 displaces insulation 38
thereby allowing inner conductor 36 of first conductor 14 to make
electrical contact to insulation displacement contacts 60.
[0023] Releasable pressure contact 62 includes contact 68 which
presses against and makes electrical contact with inner conductor
36 of stripped end 40 of second conductor 16 when second conductor
16 is inserted into wire aperture 72. Spring 70 of releasable
pressure contact 62 forces contact 68 onto inner conductor 36 of
second conductor 16 when second conductor 16 is inserted into wire
aperture 72. Spring 70 includes first spline 82, second spline 84
and an interconnecting web 86 curved in an arc subtending greater
than 180 degrees. Pushbutton aperture 74 allows pushbutton 58, when
actuated, to allow second conductor 16 to make electrical contact
with contact 68 or to be removed from contact 68 without the
disassembly of electrical connector 18. Additionally, pushbutton
58, when actuated, allows the removal and/or insertion of second
conductor 16 from connector 18 without other disassembly between
second conductor 16 and terminal 44 such as unsoldering and
resoldering, etc. Locating holes 76 of electrical terminal 44 allow
registration and location of electrical terminal 44 with respect to
housing 42.
[0024] Housing 42 generally includes apertures 46, 48 and 52 for
the ingress and egress of conductors, housing clips 78 for holding
housing halves 42A and 42B together, clip apertures 80 and
pushbuttons 58. Electrical connector 18 has housing 42 with first
aperture 46 allowing ingress of first conductor 14 and second
aperture 48 allowing egress of first conductor 14. Alternatively,
second aperture 48 can allow ingress of first conductor 14 and
first aperture 46 can allow egress of first conductor 14. Aperture
52, in conjunction with pushbutton 58, allows for connection and
disconnection of push-in second conductor 16 in electrical
connector 18 without the disassembly of electrical connector 18.
Housing clips 78 and clip apertures 80 allow housing 42 to be
separated for the easy connection to pass-through first conductor
14. While housing 42 is shown as having housing halves 42A and 42B,
it can alternatively be of monolithic construction.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows housing 42 with electrical terminal 44 mounted
therein. Locating holes 76 of electrical terminal 44 are mounted
over terminal locator pins 56 of housing 42 to allow registration
and location of electrical terminal 44 with respect to housing 42.
First conductor 14 is connected to insulation displacement contact
60 in a pass-through arrangement. Second conductor 16 is connected
to releasable pressure contact 62 in a push-in arrangement.
[0026] Limit ribs 50 in housing 42 limit the maximum opening of
releasable pressure contact 62. Wire support 54 of housing 42
supports first conductor 14 in insulation displacement contact 60
of electrical terminal 44.
[0027] Terminal locator pins 56 locate and hold electrical terminal
44 in housing 42. Push button 58 attaches to housing 42 through
pushbutton resilient member 59 and actuates releasable pressure
contact 62 thereby allowing connection and disconnection of second
conductor 16 from electrical connector 18. Pushbutton 58 may
actuate releasable pressure contact 62 (FIG. 3) in direction A to
allow either the insertion or removal of second conductor 16.
[0028] During assembly electrical terminal 44 is mounted in housing
42. First conductor 14 is inserted into insulation displacement
contacts 60 and then routed to subsequent devices and/or
connectors. Housing halves 42A and 42B are closed causing
insulation displacement contacts 60 to pierce insulation 38 and
contact inner conductor 36. Stripped end 40 of second conductor 16
is then inserted into wire aperture 72. By actuating pushbutton 58,
second conductor 16 can be fully inserted into and makes positive
contact with releasable pressure contact 62 thereby completing the
electrical connection between first conductor 14 and second
conductor 16.
[0029] While this invention has been described as having a
preferred design, the present invention can be further modified
within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is
therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of
the invention using its general principles. Further, this
application is intended to cover such departures from the present
disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to
which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of
the appended claims.
* * * * *